Ex-minister to head major science institute

Ex-minister to head major science institute

The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), this week, appointed Prof Romain Murenzi as its new Executive Director.

The former Minister in the President’s Office in charge of ICT replaces the academy’s long-time Executive Director, Mohamed H.A. Hassan, who is retiring after 25 years of service.

“Murenzi’s successful career as a researcher, teacher and high-level administrator and policy official makes him an excellent choice for the Executive Director of TWAS,” the academy’s president, Jacob Palis, said.

“We believe that Professor Murenzi has the skills and experience to lead the secretariat in the years ahead as TWAS seeks to expand its efforts to build scientific and technological capacity in all developing countries.”

TWAS was launched in 1983 and currently has nearly 1,000 members from 90 countries. It is based in Italy and oversees a broad range of capacity building programmes worldwide.

Murenzi was elected a member of TWAS in 2005 and has served as vice president of TWAS for Africa.